Template

ABSTRACT

A template having openings where holes may be drilled, and having on the back a handle, a bubble level, and movable arms for extension purposes.

United States Patent [1 1 Sauey Jan. 7, 1975 [54] TEMPLATE 2,855,695 l0/l958 Bu cl 33/370 Inventor: Donald P. y Ocala, Ha- 3,79l,04l 2/1974 Phillips 408/72 X [73] Assignee: Closet Maid, Inc., Ocala, Fla.

Primary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz [22] July 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Oltman and Flynn [2!] Appl. No.: 378,504

[52] US. Cl. 408/16, 408/72 R 511 Int. Cl. B23c 49/02 [571 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 408/16, 72 R, 115;

33/174 G, 333, 370; 144/1445 A template having openings where holes may be drilled, and having on the back a handle, a bubble [56] References Cited level, and movable arms for extension purposes.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,101,517 6/1914 Ahlvin 33/194 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 'PATENTEDJAN H915 3,859,002

FWIHM.

TEMPLATE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various templates have been proposed heretofore for assisting in the proper positioning of holes to be drilled. However, none of the prior arrangements is entirely satisfactory in practical use, particularly in the drilling of holes for shelves that are to be located at selected heights on a wall, such as in a closet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a novel and improved template that facilitates the proper location of drilled holes, such as holes where shelf brackets are to be mounted. A handle on the back of the template makes it easy for the user to hold it flushagainst the wall with one hand while his other hand holds an electric drill for insertion of the drill bit in selected openings in the template, depending upon the shelf height desired. The template also has a bubble level on the back which the user may observe to insure that paired openings in the template are properly aligned to receive screws or wall anchors for the shelf brackets, so that the shelf will be positioned precisely horizontal. Movable arms are provided on the template for positioning it relative to a wall. Reinforcing bars on the back of the template stiffen it and engage a reference surface, such as the floor, for positioning the selected template openings at desired elevations on the wall. A pin may also be connected to the template.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a novel and improved template for use in drilling holes in a wall or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a template which is constructed and arranged to facilitate the location of a shelf at any of several different levels.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment thereof, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the present template being used by a workman to locate the drilled holes where a shelf bracket is to be attached to a wall;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing this template on a larger scale; and

FIG. 3 is a further-enlarged elevational view of the middle portion of the template, where the handle and the bubble level are located.

Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail. it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the de tails of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also. the terminolgy used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation Referring to the drawing, the present template comprises an elongated, flat, rectangular plate member which has reinforcing bars at the back in the form of a pair of laterally spaced angle irons 11 extending longi tudinally of the plate and parallel to its opposite side edges 12 and 13. Each of these angle irons has a flat leg 14 which lies flush against the back of the plate and is rigidly attached to the latter by suitable fasteners, and at the laterally inward edge of this leg 14 a perpendicu' larly disposed leg 15 attached integrally to the leg 14 and extending away from the back of the plate. Both reinforcing bars 11 extend below the bottom edge 16 of the plate 10 by the same distance.

A curved handle 17 is attached to the plate 10 at the back about midway along its length. This handle extends across the space between the reinforcing bars 11 and provides an opening there for receiving comfortably the fingers on one of the users hands, as shown in FIG. 1.

A horizontal bubble level 18 of conventional design is attached to be back of the plate at a level higher than the handle 17 for convenient viewing by the user. The bubble chamber in the level 18 is positioned so that the bubble is centered only when the opposite side edges 12 and 13 of plate member 10 and the reinforcing bars 11 on the back of this plate are precisely vertical. A vertical bubble level 18 is also attached to plate 10 so that the plate can be located in a horizontal position.

Near each of its opposite side edges the plate mem ber 10 has openings in which cylindrical steel bushings 19 are seated for locating the drill bit on an electric drill or hand drill (FIG. 1). The openings preferably are arranged on each side in vertically spaced pairs 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. The vertical spacing between the openings in each pair corresponds to the vertical spacing between openings in a bracket that is to be mounted where the holes are drilled. (For example. the bracket may be a shelf-supporting bracket of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,598,064.) These paired openings are located at predetermined heights above the lower ends of the reinforcing members 11, corresponding to convenient heights at which shelves or the like typically are to be located.

Arms 26 are pivotally connected to plate 10, there being two vertically spaced arms at each edge of the plate. A pin 28 is removably screwed into a nut 29 sus' pended on a chain 30 affixed to plate 10.

In the use of this template, the user positions it as shown in FIG. I, with the lower ends of the reinforcements ll resting on the floor, so that the floor acts as a horizontal reference surface from which the drilled openings are spaced by predetermined distances. The template preferably butts at one edge against a cross wall (not shown) so that the cross wall serves as a vertical reference for the holes to be drilled. The user grasps the handle 17 with one hand while holding the drill in the other, and he may tilt the template angularly in either direction in order to center the bubble in the level in the usual manner. This insures that the openings in each pair are located in vertical alignment for properly locating the drilled holes where the shelf brackets will be attached by screws or anchor bolts.

If a wider shelf is to be installed, one vertically aligned pair of arms 26 is swung to a horizontal position, and its pair of arms is butted against the cross wall which serves as vertical reference. Adjustments in p0sitioning are again made using bubble level 18, and the holes are drilled at a selected vertical level through the appropriate bushings.

The template may also be used in a horizontal position to drill holes for the mounting brackets or clips for supporting the rear of a shelf. The projecting ends of the bars 11 are butted against the wall where the holes described above have been drilled. A single hole is drilled through one bushing 19 at the proper level. The pin 28 is then inserted through the bushing into the drilled hole. The plate 10 is leveled using level 18', and the other holes are then drilled.

I claim: 1. In a template comprising:

a plate member elongated in one direction and having a flat front face for engagement with a vertical wall in a building, said plate member having a plurality of sets of openings therein for respectively receiving and guiding a drill bit, with the openings in each set being closely spaced apart in said one direction;

a handle on the back of said plate member intermediate the ends thereof;

bubble level means on the back of said plate member having means for indicating when said openings have a predetermined relationship to one another corresponding to the desired positions for holes to be drilled in the wall; and a pair of laterally spaced, elongated reinforcing bars on the back of said plate member extending lengthwise in said one direction and projecting equally beyond one end edge of said plate member for engagement with a flat reference surface from which the drilled holes are to be spaced; the improvement which comprises:

a first pair of arms pivoted to the back of said plate member close to one longitudinal edge thereof and located respectively toward the oppositeends of said plate member;

and a second pair of arms pivoted to the back of said plate member close to the opposite longitudinal edge thereof and located respectively toward the opposite ends of said plate member;

the arms of each pair being individually adjustable pivotally from a retracted position behind the plate member to an extended position projecting laterally beyond the respective longitudinal edge of the plate member for engagement against a cross wall that extends perpendicular to said first-mentioned wall to provide a reference surface for the template.

2. A template according to claim 1, wherein the closely spaced openings in each set are aligned in said one direction.

3. A template according to claim 1, and further comprising a pin and a flexible connector attaching said pin to the back of said plate member adjacent said one end edge of the latter.

4. A template according to claim 1, wherein said bubble level means comprises:

comprising a pin for insertion in a drilled hole in the wall, and a flexible connector attaching said pin to the "back of said plate member adjacent said one end edge of the latter.

6. A'bubble level according to claim 5, wherein the closely spaced openings in each set are aligned in said direction of elongation of the plate member. 

1. In a template comprising: a plate member elongated in one direction and having a flat front face for engagement with a vertical wall in a building, said plate member having a plurality of sets of openings therein for respectively receiving and guiding a drill bit, with the openings in each set being closely spaced apart in said one direction; a handle on the back of said plate member intermediate the ends thereof; bubble level means on the back of said plate member having means for indicating when said openings have a predetermined relationship to one another correspondIng to the desired positions for holes to be drilled in the wall; and a pair of laterally spaced, elongated reinforcing bars on the back of said plate member extending lengthwise in said one direction and projecting equally beyond one end edge of said plate member for engagement with a flat reference surface from which the drilled holes are to be spaced; the improvement which comprises: a first pair of arms pivoted to the back of said plate member close to one longitudinal edge thereof and located respectively toward the opposite ends of said plate member; and a second pair of arms pivoted to the back of said plate member close to the opposite longitudinal edge thereof and located respectively toward the opposite ends of said plate member; the arms of each pair being individually adjustable pivotally from a retracted position behind the plate member to an extended position projecting laterally beyond the respective longitudinal edge of the plate member for engagement against a cross wall that extends perpendicular to said first-mentioned wall to provide a reference surface for the template.
 2. A template according to claim 1, wherein the closely spaced openings in each set are aligned in said one direction.
 3. A template according to claim 1, and further comprising a pin and a flexible connector attaching said pin to the back of said plate member adjacent said one end edge of the latter.
 4. A template according to claim 1, wherein said bubble level means comprises: a first bubble level on the back of said plate member having its bubble centered only when the plate member is positioned with its direction of elongation vertical; and a second bubble level on the back of said plate member having its bubble centered only when the plate member is positioned with its direction of elongation horizontal.
 5. A bubble level according to claim 4, and further comprising a pin for insertion in a drilled hole in the wall, and a flexible connector attaching said pin to the back of said plate member adjacent said one end edge of the latter.
 6. A bubble level according to claim 5, wherein the closely spaced openings in each set are aligned in said direction of elongation of the plate member. 